Crime
Slush back in court
Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Crime
George rejects Junior Areai’s evidence as ‘lies’ Norman George was back in court yesterday, riding out the last leg of the Operation Slush trial that has spanned more than a year. He was calm and composed as he fielded lawyer Tim Arnold’s questions pertaining to the seven corruption charges he still faces. George has been […]
Drink driving dominates court hearing
Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Danny Cook appeared on charges of excess breath alcohol, careless driving causing injury, careless driving causing death and driving without a licence. His father Kevin Cook appeared on behalf of defence counsel Tim Arnold, and requested that the case be adjourned until next week, pending disclosures from police. JP Taori ordered the prosecution to submit […]
Fraud, rape, burglary, assault dealt with
Friday 12 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Ina Tautu presided over 15 cases in the high court yesterday: Helen Rota – pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud. The defendant was charged with forging Westpac bank cheques for $350, $90 and $350, all signed by Takuvaine Christian Youth. She was found to have used the cheques to purchase […]
Epic Te Puna dispute settled
Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Crime
March 8 marked the end of a land dispute that has been brewing for over a century – one of the most contentious in recent history. Justice Kenneth Heta Hingston ruled this week that approximately 147 acres (sections 50A and 50B) in Takitumu belong to “the Carr group” – those directly represented by Mrs Tere […]
12 cases in court
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Dorice Reid (Te Tika Mataiapo) presided over just 12 cases in the high court this week: James Engu did not appear for call-overs on an unsound mind charge and a threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm charge. The defendant’s case was adjourned indefinitely and he will remain in custody. […]
Operation Slush not over yet
Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Crime
In the wake of Judge Colin Nicholson’s discharge rulings, Operation Slush continues to simmer. For lawyer Norman George, it’s not over yet. George was discharged from seven corruption charges last week but faces seven others. He was excused from charges that Judge Nicholson said were not supported by ‘direct’ evidence, but those charges which Nicholson […]
Nurse pleads guilty to manslaughter
Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Bernice Manarangi presided over the following cases in the high court this week: A Mitiaro woman with name suppression appeared for a call-over on a manslaughter charge. She switched the not guilty plea she filed in November to guilty through legal counsel Norman George. The woman, who is a nurse, was […]
Assault, burglary, drink driving dealt with
Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Crime
JP Ina Tautu presided over a number of cases in the Rarotonga High Court last week: Tai Herman was called for a common assault charge. The name suppression Herman was granted last month expired, and Tautu did not renew it. Herman did not appear in court as he is tied up in Aitutaki helping to […]
198 companies struck off
Thursday 18 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Almost 200 companies failed to file their annual return fees and have been struck off the Register of Companies. The Companies Act of 1970 requires a company to pay its return fees each year, and to file a form listing such details as particulars of directors and secretary, shareholders and shares, present members and persons […]
Four assault on a female cases in court this week
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Pae Tuteru presided over a number of cases in the high court this week: Emily Rima – pleaded not guilty to careless driving. Counsel Levenia Rokoika alleged that police had unlawfully approached the defendant prior to the hearing, urging her to plead guilty and pay fines, and asked that the court […]
Wilkie withdraws proceedings against Demos
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Wilkie Rasmussen has withdrawn legal proceedings against the Democratic Party after his expulsion from the party late last year. On September 10, Rasmussen, who is currently the attorney general and finance minister, filed an application for various declaratory orders declaring that the cancellation of his party membership be null and void, and of no legal […]
3 bench warrants issued
Saturday 6 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Three bench warrants were issued at last Thursday’s criminal hearing in the High Court. Bobby Tekoronga was charged with excess breath alcohol. His failure to appear in court prompted Reid to issue a bench warrant. Tangatatutai Ngatupuna was charged with cultivating cannabis and assault on a female. He did not appear in court and a […]
Bench warrants issued for non-appearance
Friday 5 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Dorice Reid issued bench warrants for a number of people who failed to turn up to court yesterday. Bench warrants were issued for Bobby Tekoronga, Tangatatutai Ngatupuna, David Nicholls, Brett Gibson, David Chaloner, Matangaro Lang, Samuel Karaponga, Temu Okotai, Sakaria Siga and Samuela Seru, who all failed to appear in court. […]
This week's appearances
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Cases dealt with in the high court this week: Tuarongo Pareangacharged with attempted rape. Pareanga has been advised to seek legal representation and will re-appear before the court on February 4. Andrew Tonoriocharged with theft. Tonorio has 13 outstanding ‘not guilty’ pleas and four outstanding ‘guilty’ pleas. On Thursday he told the court that he’d […]
Bail changed for Williams
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Paul Williams appeared in court this week for assault on a female. His wife will not be withdrawing the charges. Prosecutor Kim Saunders of Crown Law said that Williams had “approached” and “interfered with” the victim, thus violating the conditions of his bail. Counsel Norman George countered that since the couple is “back together, living […]
Threatening to kill case back in the high court
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
StRuck-off lawyer Tevita Vakalalabure appeared before the high court on Thursday for an outstanding threatening to kill charge. Legal counsel Norman George requested that the case be adjourned until Vakalalabure receives the medical “documents” he is expecting. The defendant is waiting to hear confirmation for an appointment he made with an Auckland specialist, who will […]
28 hearings in criminal court
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Dorice Reid presided over 28 hearings last Thursday, ranging in nature from careless driving to assisting an escape from prison. Most cases were adjourned to later dates, as legal counsel Norman George said he has just returned to the island and has not had sufficient time to meet with his clients. […]
First court sitting of the year
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Daniel Mare – previously pleaded not guilty to burglary but appeared in court yesterday to assess whether he had legal representation. The defendant still did not have a lawyer and the court heard from the prison warden that no one wanted to represent him or his fellow inmate, Putere Dean. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Tuaine […]
Tahiti claimant seeks title
Thursday 14 January 2010 | Published in Crime
One of the claimants for Rarotonga’s chiefly Makea Nui title says one needs to go deeper into Tahitian history to find out the real story behind the title. Oti Oti, who is of Maukean descent and has been in the country for the last three weeks, has been residing in French Polynesia since 1970. Oti […]
Suppression for official
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in Crime
A prominent island official received name suppression in the High Court yesterday when facing a charge of common assault charge. Justice of the Peace Pae Tuteru granted name suppression for a man accused of assaulting a 57-year-old on Friday night. The alleged offence happened near the office of the ministry of infrastructure and planning in […]